hove-dance 
hove-dancet, n. [ME., < OD. ho/clans = MHG. 
hovetans, G. hof tans, < D. hof (= G. liof), court 
(see hovel), + dans (= G. tanz), dance.] A 
court-dance. 
To lerne hitve-daunces [vnr. love-dances], spiynges, 
Reye and these straunge thyiiges. 
Chaucer, House of Fame, 1. 1235. 
And if it nedes so betide, 
That I in compaigny abide 
Where as I muste daunce and singe 
The hove-daunce and carolinge, 
Or for to go the newe fote, 
I may nought wel heve up my fote, 
II that she be nought in the way. 
(jfower, Conf. An mi it.. III. 6. 
IlOVel (hoy'- or huv'el), n. [< ME. hovel, hovil, 
hovylle, dim. of AS. hof, also hofa, a house, hall, 
= OS. hof = OFries. hof, a house. = D. hof, gar- 
den, court, = MLG. hof = OHG. MHG. G. hof, a 
yard, garden, court, palace, = Icel. hof, a tem- 
ple, a hall, later (= Dan. Sw. hof, after G.) a 
court. Cf. ftoiwl and /torer.] 1 . An open shed 
for sheltering cattle, or for protecting produce, 
farming implements, etc., from the weather. 
Graciona ray lord, hard by here is a hovel; 
Some friendship witl it lend you 'gainst the tempest. 
Shak., Lear, iii. 2. 
Nor does the boarded hovel better guard 
The well-stack'd pile of riven logs and roots. 
Cowper, Task, iv. 443. 
2. A poor cottage; a small mean house; a 
wretched habitation. 
This glorious sun, does he not send as glad a ray into 
the hovel as into the palace? 
Charming, Perfect Life, p. 68. 
3f. A canopy with hanging sides over a statue ; 
a niche for a statue. 
A hovel with pleyn sydes comyng down to the baas [of 
the ymage of oure ladyj. 
Wills and Inventories (ed. Tymms), p. 19. 
4. In poreelain-manuf., a cone-shaped brick 
structure surrounded by the ovens or firing- 
kilns. 
hovel (hov'el), v. t.; pret. and pp. hoveled or 
hovelled, ppr. hoveling or hovelling. [< hovel, .] 
1. To put in or as in a hovel; house meanly. 
And wast thou fain, poor father, 
To hovel thee with swine, and rogues forlorn, 
In short and musty straw? Shak., Lear, iv. 7. 
When the poor are hovell'd and hustled together, each 
sex, like swine. Tennyson, Maud, i. 
2. To form like an open hovel or shed: as, to 
hovel a chimney. See hoveling. 
hoveler, hoveller (hov'el-er), . 1. On some 
parts of the coast of England, one of a class of 
persons employed as non-certificated pilots, as 
wreckers, in landing passengers from ships by 
means of boats, etc.: probably so called from 
their use of hovels on shore for shelter. 
This word [hoveler] was originally a Cinque Port term 
for a pilot. It has since become applied to sturdy va- 
grants who infest the seacoast in bad weather for pur- 
poses of wreck and plunder. N. and Q., 7th ser., II. 20. 
With great difficulty, and at the imminent risk of their 
own lives, the hovellers, as they are called [in Kent and 
Sussex], had contrived to bring off the whole of the crew. 
0. P. S. James, Morley Ernstein, xxiii. 
Hence 2. An English coasting-vessel used 
for all sorts of work. 
There'll be a whole fleet of hovelers around 'em before 
another hour's gone. 
W. C. Russell, Sailor's Sweetheart, ill. 
hovel-houset, hovel-housingt (hov'el-hous, 
-hou"zing), n. [< hovel, 3, + housel, housingl.] 
A canopied niche for a statue. 
hoveling, hovelling (hov'el-ing), n. [< hovel, 
v., + -ittjjr 1 .] 1. A mode of preventing chim- 
neys from smoking, by carrying up two sides 
higher than those which are less liable to re- 
ceive strong currents of air, or leaving aper- 
tures on all the sides, so that while the wind 
blows over the top the smoke may escape be- 
low. 2. A chimney so built. 
hoveller, n. See hoveler. 
hovenH (ho'vn). A former past participle of 
heave. 
hoven 2 , a. See hooven. 
hover (huv'er or hov'er), v. [< ME. hoveren 
(rare), wait, linger; freq. of hoven, wait: see 
/tow 1 .] I. intrans. 1. To keep lingering about ; 
wait near at hand; move about waveringly, 
cautiously, or hesitatingly ; go to and fro near 
or about a place or an object. 
This fleete houered about the Streights of Gibraltar. 
Hakluyt's Voyages, II. 286. 
They rade their horse, they ran their horse, 
Then hover'd on the lee. 
Aulil Maitland (Child's Ballads, VI. 229). 
Straight hover round the fair her airy band. 
Pope, B. pf the L., iii. 113. 
2905 
What haunting harmonies hover around us deep and 
eternal like the undying barytone of the sea. 
Lowell, Among my Books, 2d ser., p. 240. 
2. To hang fluttering in the air, as a bird or an 
insect while seeking food or a place to alight ; 
linger over or about a place or an object. 
Those cloudes, that are continually hovering about the 
Alpes. Coryat, Crudities, I. 86. 
So numberless were those bad angels seen, 
Hovering on wing under the cope of hell. 
Milton, P. L., i. 345. 
" What mean," said I, " those great nights of birds that 
are hoveriny about the bridge, and settling upon it from 
time to time?" Addition. 
3. To be in an indeterminate or irresolute state ; 
stand in suspense or expectation ; waver as to 
a decision or a result: as, a patient hovering 
between life and death ; a mind hovering on the 
verge of madness. 
He dayly looketh after chaunges and alterations, and 
hovereth in expectation of newe worldes. 
Spenser, State of Ireland. 
Her thoughts ten thousand sweets examin'd, and 
Hover'd in gazing doubt which to prefer. 
J. Beaumont, Psyche, iv. 237. 
II. trans. To protect or shelter ; cover with 
the wings and body : said of a brooding fowl : 
as, a hen with more chickens than she can 
hover. 
hover (huv'6r or hov'er), n. [A var. of hove 1 , 
with ref. to the related hover, i>.] If. A protec- 
tion or shelter. 
Oysters grew upon the boughs of trees, . . . which were 
cast in thither to serve as a hover for the flsh. 
R. Carew, Survey of Cornwall, fol. 105. 
2. In pros., afoot consisting of mere accentual 
place. [Rare.] 
Nothing of the nature of the hover is met with, every 
successive step being invariably accented, whether falling 
on words ordinarily capable or not. 
E. Wadham, Eng. Versification, p. 38. 
hoverer (huv'- or hov'er-er), n. 1. One who 
or that which hovers. 
About him flew the clamours of the dead, 
Like fowles, and still stoopt cuffing at his head. 
He with his bow, like Night, stalkt vp and downe, 
His shaft still nockt : and, hurling round his frowne 
At those vext houerers, aiming at them still. 
Chapman, Odyssey, xi. 
2. An artificial "mother" or warmed shelter- 
box for young chicks ; a brooder. 
hover-groundt (huv'er-ground), n. Light 
ground. Hay. 
hover-hawk (huv'er-hak), n. The windhover 
or kestrel, Falco tinnunculus. [Prov. Eng.] 
hoveringly (huv'- or hov'er-iug-li), adv. In a 
hovering manner. 
Hoveringly a sword 
Now over and now under, now direct, 
Pointed itself to pierce. Tennyson, Lucretius. 
hover lyt, adv. [< hover + -lyV.~\ While wait- 
ing; transiently; while on the way. 
My mynde was but houerly and faintlye moued to synne, 
euen as we are wonte sklenderlye to loue suche thinges, 
whereof we male, when we luste, haue our pleasure. 
J. Udall, On Bom. vii. 
hovite (ho'yit),re. [< Hove (see def.) + -i<e 2 .] 
A soft, white, earthy mineral from Hove, near 
Brighton, England. It has been supposed to be a hy- 
drous carbonate of aluminium and calcium, but its com- 
position is doubtful. 
how 1 (hou), adv. [< ME. how, liou, hough, hwow, 
hwou, hwu, wu, w, hu, North, quow, qulm, < AS. 
hu, how (interrogative and relative), = OS. 
liwo = OFries. hu, ho, hoe = D. hoe, how ; near- 
ly identical with AS. hwy, hwi, hwig, for what, 
for what cause or reason, why: see why. Prac- 
tically how is a doublet of why, differentiated 
in form and use.] A. interrogative. 1. In what 
way ? in what manner ? 
Hu ma it ben, 
Adam ben king and Eue quuen ? 
Genesis and Exodus (E. E. T. S.), 1. 295. 
How can a man be bom when he is old? John ill. 4. 
2. Bywhatmeans? as, ftowdidhedoit? how 
did you come ? 
" Sir, there's no seam," quoth she ; "I never knew 
That folks did apple dumplings sew." 
" No ! " cries the staring monarch, with a grin ; 
" How, how the devil got the apple in?" 
Wokot, Apple Dumplings and a King. 
3. To what degree or extent? in what propor- 
tion or amount? by what measure or quantity? 
qualifying an adverb or adjective of degree 
or quantity: as, how large was it? how far did 
you go? how many tickets did you get? 
How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long 
shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind? 
Job viii. 2. 
How much owest thou unto my lord? Luke xvi. 6. 
How long hast thou been a gravemaker? 
Shak., Hamlet, v. 1. 
how 
In this use often exclamatory in form and affirmative in 
meaning. 
How much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith ! 
Luke xii. 28. 
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is 
To have a thankless child ! Shak., Lear, i. 4. 
Snch sentences also take in modern speech the affirma- 
tive form : as, hoiv much better you are looking ! how little 
you have changed ! how stupid he is! 
4. In what state, condition, or plight ? 
How, and with what reproach shall I return? 
Dryden, .Kneid. 
So colloquially, in reference to one's health or affairs: as, 
how do you do? how have you been? how's your family? 
he asked how you all were ; how is business ? 
Hee has an excellent memorie for his acquaintance, 
though there past but "how doe you? " betwixt them seuen 
yeeres agoe. Bp. Earle, Micro-cosmographie, A Sharke. 
5. At what price? as, how do you sell your 
potatoes ? how is wheat going now ? 
How a good yoke of bullocks at Stamford fair? 
Shak., 2 Hen. IV., Hi. 2. 
6. For what reason ? why ? 
If thou be to ly at the Alter, how wantest thou a priest 
to say thy sonle Masse? 
Blame of Kirk-burial, xi. (Jamieson.) 
How saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto 
him, Because I said, Lest I die for her. Gen. xxvi. 9. 
Why is your cheek so pale ? 
How chance the roses there do fade so fast? 
Shak., M. N. D., i. L 
7. To what effect? what? with regard to a 
thing said or asked about, as when one asks an 
opinion or a repetition of a thing said and not 
understood: equivalent to the simple whatt as, 
how say you, gentlemen of the jury ? How used 
alone, instead of what, is chiefly colloquial. 
To Surry ward, hough seye ye now be that? 
The quene Sereyne wold right fayne se you ther. 
Generydes (E. E. T. S.), 1. 610. 
Do put your accents in the proper spot ; 
Don't let me beg you don't say "How?" for "What?" 
0. W. Holmes, A Rhymed Lesson. 
With this use of how is connected its interjectional use, 
marking surprise, or being a mere greeting or call. 
Howl Gyb, goodmorne; wheder goys thou? 
Towneley Mysteries, p. 86. 
Abraham ! how ! Abraham ! Lyst and herke weylle unto 
me. Coventry Mysteries, p. 51. 
How ! not one poor welcome, 
In answer of so long a journey made 
Only to see you, brother? 
Beau, and Fl., Thierry and Theodoret, ii. 1. 
In this use often with now: as, how now! what are you 
doing? 
How now! why thus? what cause of this dejection? 
Fletcher (and another), False One, iv. 3. 
B. relative. 1. In what way; in what man- 
ner; the way or manner in which . . .: intro- 
ducing a relative clause and performing the of- 
fice of a conjunctional adverb. 
Nu haue ye herd the gest al thoru 
Of Hauelock and of Goldeborw, 
Hw lie weren born, and hw fedde, 
And hwou he weren with wronge ledde. 
Havelok, 1. 2984. 
Alisandrine algate than after [that] throwe 
Bi-thoujt hire ful busily howe best were to werche. 
William ofPalerne (E. E. T. S.), 1. 650. 
So to Charing Cross stairs, and to Sir W. Coventry's, who 
tells me how he hath been persecuted. 
Pepys, Diary, III. 377. 
By this means it becomes a rule, not so much to regard 
what we do, as how we do it. Steele, Spectator, No. 6. 
Those . . . were cautious how they staked their money 
against a man of such sudden resources. 
Thackeray, Vanity Fair. 
The hawkers . . . are wary how they buy any animal 
suspected to be stolen. 
Mayhew, London Labour and the London Poor, II. 62. 
2. By what means; the means by which. 
But he saugh not how he tnyght with hym be acorded 
with his honour, but yef god wolde helpe hym of coun- 
seile. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), iii. 460. 
You taught me how to know the face of right 
Shak., K. John, v. 2. 
How he came to wear the Crown, aspiring or by free 
choise, Is not said. Milton, Hist. Eng., iii 
The Christians . . . came upon us, we know not whence 
or how, and scaled the walls of the castle in the night. 
Irving, Granada, p. 38. 
When there is something to be done, the world knows 
how to get it done. Emerson, Fate. 
To know how to exercise the attention, ham to call forth 
its full activity, is ... the first condition of success in 
education. J. Sully, Outlines of Psychol., p. 104. 
3. To what degree or extent ; in what propor- 
tion or amount ; by what measure or quantity: 
qualifying an adverb or adjective : as, I do not 
know how large it is ; I asked him how far he 
had traveled. 
Quanne the erl Godrich him herde 
Of that mayden hw wel she ferde, 
Hw wis sho was, hw chaste, hw fayr, . . . 
The bigan Godrich to sike. Havelok, 1. 287. 
